Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Further along was the one pub set back behind a pond and a green, the road widening on the bend into almost a square. A church and a hall, a community centre and school, all self-contained with lots of passing traffic via the main road.
It was a long way from what Juliette was used to but it was different in its own right. She had wandered up and down the length of it twice now, getting acquainted with its people, the feel of it all.
As she came out of the butcher’s, she spotted a woman walking past. ‘Sarah?’ she said, smiling when she turned. She wasn’t sure but she thought she saw a look of panic on her face before a smile appeared. ‘Hi, it’s Juliette. I’ve just moved in next door.’
Sarah was a tall thin woman, almost emaciated in her look.
Juliette reckoned she was one of those women who could eat anything and get away with it, a swimmer’s build.
Or maybe netball, an asset to a team as she stretched to score an easy goal.
Her long blonde hair hung loose, in need of a trim, hollow cheekbones standing out but making her look remarkably pretty.
She wore a pale blue maxi dress and flat sandals, her shopping in a tartan bag.
‘Oh, yes, hi. Are you settling in okay?’ Sarah asked.
‘Yes, thanks. It’s a bit lonely with my husband commuting to London in the week. It’s not for long luckily, and I can still see him at the weekends until then.’
‘The best of both worlds,’ Sarah replied. ‘I’ve been to London twice. It’s very manic.’
‘Yes, I miss it and I don’t. Its busyness had its advantages and disadvantages.’ Juliette grinned. ‘I’m heading home now, are you?’
‘Yes.’
They walked at a steady pace.
‘So what is there to do around here?’ Juliette asked. ‘Are there any daytime activities, night classes, that type of thing?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘It’s a sleepy village but it has its moments. There’s always something going on at the community centre. You could check that out.’
‘Thanks, I will.’
‘There’s a pub quiz every Thursday night.’
‘Ah, that will have to wait until Danny moves here permanently. I’m not sure I could force my way in.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m not a local. Will it take us a while to fit in?’
‘I don’t think so. I’ve been here two years and don’t get that vibe. Although I do tend to keep myself to myself, with Richard.’
‘Are you and him…?’
‘Yes,’ Sarah replied. ‘Oh, there’s the book club every fortnight if you’re a reader.’
‘I am! That sounds right up my street. Do you have any more details?’
‘No, sorry. I’m not a member but I bet there’ll be a card up somewhere about it. Perhaps try the newsagents, or Karen. She owns the hairdressers, and it was her idea to start the club.’
‘Not to worry. I’ll find more details when I next go into the village.
Gosh, it’s so lovely around here. I can’t believe the greenery.
’ Juliette gazed upwards, feeling the warmth of the sun as it popped its head through the trees.
Every garden she came to was a riot of colour and aroma of spring.
She made a decision to find out what she had in her own and look after it, take an interest in nurturing something from the ground.
She laughed inwardly: she’d only been here a week and she was turning into a country bumpkin.
She hoped she’d feel the same in a few weeks.
‘It is a beautiful place,’ Sarah replied. ‘I quite like how we’re not in each other’s pockets. But good neighbours are always looking out for each other as well.’
After a couple of minutes’ small talk, they drew up at their front gates. There was barely a metre between them, the hedge that separated their gardens travelling from the main road all the way back.
‘If you ever fancy a coffee, do pop round,’ Juliette said. ‘Quite frankly, it’s been great to talk to you. I haven’t spoken to a soul since the weekend.’
‘Is Danny home soon?’
‘Tomorrow evening. I can’t wait.’
Sarah’s eyes flicked behind Juliette. ‘I’d better be going.’ With that, she raced along her drive.
‘Bye, then,’ Juliette said under her breath, wondering why the sudden brush-off.
It was only then she noticed Richard waiting at the house, Sarah bustling towards him.
When Sarah drew level with him, there were a few words of conversation and Sarah went indoors.
Spotting her, Richard’s face changed from a scowl to a smile and he gave her a quick wave before following Sarah inside.
Wondering what that was all about, Juliette made her way indoors too. She couldn’t wait to get into her shorts and sit on the patio under the umbrella. Oh, the joys of working from home. An outside office whenever the weather dictated.
Sarah heard Richard behind her as she started to unload the shopping. She kept her back to him purposely.
When she and Richard had got together, they had taken day trips out to nearby landmarks.
The Roaches, Buxton Opera House, Matlock, Ilam and Ashbourne.
He’d shown her where he’d grown up in nearby Wink Hill, a farm with twenty-five acres.
Although he’d helped on the farm, living at home, he’d never wanted to take over full-time.
His dad’s early demise at forty-seven had given him the impetus to sell up and move.
The first time she’d visited Richard’s property, it had wowed her immediately.
Set in six acres, with a woodland to its rear, it was a two-storey stone cottage with a converted loft and a further extension with a separate annexe.
Far enough away from the road to be secluded but near enough to the village for amenities and a short car drive to nearby towns of Buxton or Leek.
Sarah remembered going into Richard’s studio. The more time she spent around him, the more she got to know him.
One morning she went in there with a purpose. It wasn’t to see what he was up to. Even so, he showed her around, talking her through some of the pieces he was working on. When their hands touched, it was the catalyst they needed.
It was the first time they had made love.
It had been dangerous and exciting as they might be caught out at any moment, but it was heavenly in many ways too.
Making love with the scent of her and Richard intermingled with the smell of the chippings.
The soft, gentle breeze of summer coming through the open door.
The blue sky in the distance, not a cloud in sight.
Sweat glistening from their bodies as they moved together in urgency. Fast, furious, intentional.
The second time had been much slower. There had been hardly any work done that day.
Oh, how things had changed since then. Now she wasn’t allowed in the studio unless she was bringing him a drink or something to eat that he’d requested to be ready at a certain time. He cited he didn’t want to be interrupted when he was in the flow, but she knew it was much more than that.
‘Why were you with her?’ Richard asked.
‘She was in the village and shouted me over.’
‘Did you walk back with her?’
‘Yes.’
‘What did you talk about?’
Sarah turned to him. ‘She wanted to know what went on in the village. Clubs to join, socialise – that kind of thing.’
‘And what did you say?’ He leaned across her, picked an apple up from the bowl and bit into it ferociously.
The intention of his actions didn’t go unnoticed with her. A bite of the forbidden fruit. He was such a hypocrite.
‘I told her what there was to do, the pub quiz, the book club, volunteering at the community centre.’
‘Doesn’t she work?’
‘Yes, from home.’
Richard gave out a loud dramatic sigh. ‘So she’s going to be here during the week and then both of them at the weekends?’
‘She said she might go to London occasionally but mostly, yes.’
‘It’s going to make things really hard for us.’
‘We’ll cope. We have done so far.’
‘Easier to do when the property was empty.’
‘We’ll manage.’
Sarah continued to put the shopping away until Richard got the message.
‘I’ll be in the studio. Lunch at twelve thirty sharp.’
She nodded. ‘I’ll bring you a coffee first.’
‘That would be lovely. I’d like it in half an hour. Don’t make it too strong this time.’
With him out of the room, Sarah put away the rest of the shopping and went upstairs. It was such a lovely day it would be a shame to waste it. Maybe she would sit out in the garden today or go for a walk in the woods. Much better than being cooped up indoors all the time.